Author: Rian

The title of this short film is a stretch. Car Seat Headrest have had a busy year to say the least (and it’s only half over). In addition to releasing Twin Fantasy, the live band has grown by three (Naked Giants), played on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon they have played a slew of tour dates across North America and Europe and have many more on the horizon.

Back to this short film which is a look inside Will Toledo’s and the now seven-piece band’s world as they get ready for shows around the release of Twin Fantasy.

About TIDALTIDAL is a global, experiential, entertainment platform built for fans, directly from artists around the world. TIDAL members enjoy exclusively curated content that directly connect artists with their fans in multiple ways. The service offers high-fidelity, CD sound quality music, high resolution video, an opportunity to discover new artists via TIDAL Rising and unique experiences via TIDAL X. TIDAL is available in more than 52 countries, with more than a 55 million song catalog and more than 220,000 high quality videos.

The music video for “The Way You Used To Do” is officially out worldwide today. This might be old news to you if you have an Apple Music account or are some kind of hacker where no paywalls can stop you.

When the Jonas Akerlund-directed (and Josh Homme-dancedhisassoff) video was first released back in August, Villians had yet to be released. At this point the band has been around the world touring nonstop, and they don’t have any plans to slow down. (I broke a sweat typing all the tour dates below, just imagine how they feel.)

In other news, Queens of the Stone Age will be back on television, this time appearing on Ellen on December 14th. Check your local listings for specific air times and get it on your calendar.

Those who tuned into Archy’s Beats 1 pop-up show yesterday (broadcasted from his home in South London) heard many new songs, an unreleased demo titled “Swan Lake” as well as “Fraternize” by a band called Uh Oh Chongo, whose members included his mother and his uncle. Listen to that episode HERE.

The OOZ will officially be out in the world (all 19 tracks of it) next Friday, October 13th. You’ve already heard “Czech One” and “Dum Surfer” and this morning we have “Half Man Half Shark” to share. The visual for the new song has live footage by John Gittens, Nigel Rubinosa, Reuben Bastienne-Lewis. Editing and animation by Theo Chin. Also find tour dates below, many of which are sold out.

This morning, we’re happy to share the next take from the upcoming album from Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice. The video for “Continental Breakfast” was directed by Danny Cohen (@DannyZCohen), who was also behind the lens for the “Over Everything” video released last month. This new video also spans a great distance (does not get much further than Melbourne and Philly. It’s a really special video and we don’t throw that world around too much. Watch and you’ll see why.

Director Danny Cohen says:

‘Continental Breakfast’ was made while spending time with Courtney and Kurt in Melbourne and Philadelphia, it’s an intimate home movie into their lives and the time spent with family and friends between recording /touring. Shot on 16mm, the mini-documentary captures honest moments that show the loving and playful nature of both Courtney and Kurt. It was such a treat to experience life with Courtney and Kurt in their natural habitats. It really left me feeling like part of the family and hopefully fans can feel that too.

More Courtney and Kurt news comes from Amoeba Hollywood, where they just announced an in-store on Thursday, October 12th. Fans can attend the in-store by picking up Lotta Sea Lice a day early at Amoeba Hollywood starting on Thursday October 12. More details can be found on the flyer below or head to Amoeba.com.

Two new additions to the ‘Turn on the Bright Light Lights XV’ tour were announced this afternoon, which both go on sale tomorrow at 1pm EST/10am PST. The band have been making their way around Europe since early August and it’s clear from the reception of those shows (The Guardian *****, NME “Magestic,”“DIY “a show live few others”), that the band’s homecoming in New York, will be special.

King Krule’s long-awaited album ‘The OOZ’ will be released October 13th on True Panther Sounds in North America and XL Recordings in Europe. Those who have been particularly anxious for news about this release will be very happy to see some of the details for the release below (including the 19 song-long tracklisting…) Before you get to to that, here’s some more info about The OOZ.

“One of the most celebrated figureheads on the independent British scene, Archy Marshall returns with the dense, sprawling The OOZ, the much anticipated follow up to his debut Six Feet Beneath the Moon. Drifting and seeping through the cracks of South London like the album title, King Krule casts an unflinching eye over his kingdom, transforming his observations of all the disorientation and heartbreak of his youth into piercing narratives and poetry that are both startlingly honest and brutally beautiful. With The OOZ, Marshall finally takes the crown as poet laureate for the dazed and confused generation, painting a bleak and sometimes harrowing picture of a rapidly splintering city.

Where Six Feet Beneath the Moon, released in 2013, was a rigorous, rambling excavation of Marshall’s expansive body of work to date, The OOZ snaps into focus quickly and sharply, his modus operandi coming into view almost immediately. Over jazzy curlicues and guitars, the opener “Biscuit Town” sets out its stall irresistibly as Marshall sings about rapidly disintegrating romance and personal dissolution with acute, almost painful detail. These wrenching themes of self-annihilation and fraying relationships seem inextricably linked in Marshall’s eyes – once you lose yourself to someone else, you inevitably wind up losing yourself completely when they leave – and recur in other tracks.

“Why’d you leave me? Because of my depression? You used to complete me but I guess I learnt a lesson” he spits on the roiling “Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver),” and, even layered with the warm vocals of Okay Kaya, “Slush Puppy” is an unsparing dissection of a couple with nothing left to give, like a Gainsbourg and Birkin ballad gone toxic. Elsewhere, things only get darker, as Marshall desperately tries to find safe harbor in the city he knows and loves, only to be thwarted constantly, as on “The Cadet Leaps” and previously released single “Czech One.” Not even the synthetic high of chemicals, as shown in “Emergency Blimp” and “A Slide In (New Drugs)” can stanch the suffering.

Although seeming at first abstract, The OOZ as a title proves oddly fitting. There are references littered throughout about its physical manifestation, or as Marshall himself says, “about earwax and snot and bodily fluids and skin and stuff that just comes out of you on a day to day basis.” But it works on a more figurative level too, with The OOZ also representing the unknown depths or horizons the solitary mind can travel to, whether it’s sinking into the deep sea or soaring through the night sky. It may be messy, unwieldy, even unsightly, Marshall seems to say — but we need The OOZ in order to exist.”

Song Exploder had an episode back in May that focused on No Shape‘s first single “Slip Away.” Mike Hadreas, Blake Mills and Shawn Everett went in deep. Google has taken the dissection of the song to a whole new level…

After some talk, tease and even a tour announcement – we are pleased to share with you ALL the details for Lotta Sea Lice, an album and collaboration between Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett. It will be released on Matador on October 13th (Marathon in Europe, Milk! in Australia & New Zealand). Zane Lowe premiered the first single “Over Everything” his Beats 1 Apple Music Radio show this morning. If you missed it, no worries, listen to the song wherever you stream music and/or watch the video (directed by Danny Cohen) for the song further down.

Tracklisting
1. Over Everything

2. Let It Go

3. Fear Is Like A Forest

4. Outta The Woodwork

5. Continental Breakfast

6. On Script

7. Blue Cheese

8. Peepin’ Tom

9. Untogether

Here’s a bit more about the album…

Lotta Sea Lice is a conversation between friends, documented in raw, unvarnished song, brimming with personal history, crackling with energy and shot through with humor. What started as a loose plan to record a couple songs with no plans for release, turned into this full-length-“because the vibee was so strong,” says Kurt. There’s an unforced ease to the record, helped by the fact that the pair have been not just friends, but hardcore fans of each other’s work for years. They also roped in colleagues such as Mick Turner and Jim White of the Dirty Three, Stella Mozgawa from Warpaint, and Aussie icon Mick Harvey.

The shared chemistry is immediately apparent in the album opener and first single “Over Everything”, with dovetailing vocal lines and intricate, shimmering guitar. The lyrics play out as a rambling dialogue as they compare notes about songwriting and inspiration; it was the first song written for this project. The video was directed by Danny Cohen, who shot each on their home turf.

The pair also tackle each other’s tracks on the album, with Vile delivering a delicious, souped-up version of “Outta the Woodwork” backed by Barnett herself, and Barnett taking on Vile’s “Peepin’ Tomboy” completely solo, to spine-tingling result. The overall effect of Lotta Sea Lice is of Barnett and Vile throwing open the doors to their house to listeners – it’s their party, but everyone is invited.

*Pre-order the double-door vinyl from Matador and get a poster designed by JessRotter. Color in the poster and share on instagram with #CBKV for a chance to win a Courtney & Kurt autographed Fender guitar. (US Only)*

Today’s the day, 8.25. You had fair warning. Villains is now out everywhere in the world. Stream the album on Apple Music, pick up at your local indie a very helpful map can be seen HERE), or if you’ve already pre-ordered the album, keep an eye on your mailman. Your copy is on the way.

There are a couple great new interviews out this week from the likes of Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. It’s great to hear from them, but we really only care about what YOU think of the album. #QOTSAVillains #Villains #opinions

There’s some extremely exciting news from True Panther out and around the internet today. King Krule is back with an incredible video (directed by Frank Lebon) as well as a huge run of North American tour dates this fall. Bask in the undeniable glow of Czech One… below. (Or should I say above?)

For those who have been able to see Perfume Genius live since the release of No Shape, you might find his cover of Mary Margaret O’Hara’s “Body’s In Trouble” familiar. It has been known to pop up in the set from time to time. Here’s what Mike Hadreas has to say about the song he has chosen to cover over and over:

I started covering this song on tour almost immediately after hearing it for the first time. I was so struck by her command and presence even though she weaves in and out of being present. Her vocal is somehow on the rhythm and completely around it, lyrics and chords are repeated throughout but there is no real center. There are brief moments where the music fully connects in a traditional way but after a few listens the most satisfying part is the song’s magic formlessness. I wouldn’t dare try to mimic or recapture her performance, but I tried to sing in the same wandering, mantra-like way – but taking it somewhere a little more sinister. I’ve lost count of how many times I use the word “body” in my songs.

My relationship with my own body is confusing and I use music to try and puzzle it out, or as rebellion against needing a form at all. Playing this cover onstage every night I use her lyric to phase in and out of both of those ideas.

The Single Session also includes “Slip Away” which was also recorded live at Spotify’s Studio in NYC.

It’s roughly 14.5 days until the next Queens of the Stone Age album is officially out in the world. Those who are having trouble with the wait, there’s some relief for you today. At last, another piece of Villains. Zane Lowe took to the airwaves on his Beats 1 show this morning to unveil part two of his interview with Josh (see below) as well as play new single “The Evil Has Landed.” So what are you waiting for? Listen here: http://smarturl.it/EvilHasLanded

EVEN FURTHER, Perfume Genius has launched a dance contest for ‘Wreath’, with support from WeTransfer. You are invited to upload a video of you dancing to the song. The prize for this contest is in my opinion better than any prize for a dance contest, ever. Mike Hadreas will reward his favorite dancer by recording a cover of a song of their choice and sending a special package of ‘witchy surprises’. Full details can be found HERE.

Yet again, Perfume Genius lit TV screens on fire, this time while performing “Wreath” and “Just Like Love” for Jimmy Kimmel Live’s studio audience. HINT, HINT there will be a couple more Wreath-related things coming out the rest of this week…

In case you missed it, the band did a Morning Becomes Eclectic session yesterday afternoon. Listen to the session here which includes a cover of “Helpless” by Neil Young and an interview with Mike. You never want to miss a new interview with Mike, trust us.

This morning band have just released the official video for album centerpiece “Cleveland” which features the principles of the Black Panthers and was filmed in Staten Island and East new York where Eric Garner and Akai Gurley were murdered by police.

Interlaced with the principles of the Black Panthers’ Ten-Point Program, the video sees frontman and lyricist Franklin James Fisher, who self-directed the video with Marisa Gesualdi and Sam Campbell, between Staten Island and the Pink Houses project in East New York, where Eric Garner and Akai Gurley were killed at the hands of New York City Police Department. The lyrics and title summon Kindra Chapman, Andre Jones, Lennon Lacy, Sandra Bland, Roosevelt Pernell, Keith Warren, Alfred Wright and Tamir Rice, similarly victims of state sanctioned violence, making for a powerful and uncompromising message of resistance and defiance as well as a life-affirming tribute. Fisher also met the family of Eric Garner (photo below) to open a conversation on future support for the community:

“A recurring theme in our music is the idea of injustice and the bitter understanding that obtaining justice in this world is all but impossible–particularly for black and brown people.”
-frontman and lyricist Franklin James Fisher

Please follow the links below for more information and to see how you can help:

We are pleased, no wait OVERJOYED to announce that Kurt Vile & Courtney Barnett will be touring North America this fall with an all-star band. This announcement comes alongside the news that the two have completed a collaboration album that will be released later this year…

(photo credit: Danny Cohen)
The inter-continental duo will share the stage, performing songs off their upcoming album as well as delving into their respective back catalogues and covering a bunch of classics, all backed by their band ‘The Sea Lice,’ a revolving cast of musicians including Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag), Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint), Rob Laakso (The Violators, The Swirlies, Mice Parade) and Katie Harkin (Harkin, Sky Larkin and touring member of Sleater-Kinney and Wild Beasts). “A cookin’ band and an intercontinental country duo for the ages—minus the country,” says Vile.

Courtney recalls the seeds of the collaboration:

“In 2014 I scored a support slot opening for Kurt at the Abbotsford Convent [outside Melbourne]. We met briefly after the show but I was a bit nervous and didn’t wanna bother him, just grateful for the gig. Years later we started bumping into each other on the festival circuit all around the wide world and we became friends. He hit me up when he was coming to Melbourne next and said he thought we could work together.”

As Kurt tells it:

“I just love her voice in general… great lyrics of course… I love all her music but the song that really hit me was “Depreston”—I know it’s popular but her voice is so good in that song and it’s so pretty and sincere… i’m a sucker for that kinda song: instant classic.

It started out as, maybe we’ll do a split 7″ together but then I figured let’s make it a 12″ so it doesn’t get lost in the world, shoot for 5 songs. It wasn’t until i had another KV tour booked for the following summer in Oz that we thought we should record as much as we can, just see what happens, no major goal to make it a full length, but it came together that way ‘cause the vibe was so strong with everyone.”

For Courtney, the admiration is mutual:

I’m a huge Kurt fan. Smoke Ring was one of my first purchases on vinyl. I was getting over a big break-up, unemployed and drifting and I would just lie on my bed and listen to ‘Peepin’ Tom’ on repeat. One of the most beautiful and luscious albums I ever heard. Me and Jen fell in love to that album.”

Kurt and Courtney have partnered with Plus 1 so that $1 from every ticket goes to support the ACLU and their work defending and protecting our individual rights and liberties. Support for the Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile (and The Sea Lice) tour will be Australian songwriter Jen Cloher.

The album is the result of 8 days in the studio spread over almost 15 months when Courtney and Kurt’s respective touring schedules allowed for them to be in the same place at the same time. It will be released later this year jointly by Matador Records, Marathon Artists and Milk! Records.

Tickets for the tour go on sale on Friday, but you can grab them early using the code BLUEBERRYHILL today starting at noon in your local market.

For those who were unable to tune in live on Friday, Perfume Genius performed “Slip Away” for the first time on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. This was the first time any song from No Shape has been performed live. You might be able to spot Blake Mills, who produced the album on stage. The album is officially out now and there’s nothing standing in your way to enjoy the album in full.

If you missed the @perfumegenius LIVE Q&A today, there is still a chance to see Mike answer all the great questions that were submitted.

“how many diet cokes have you had today?”
“I’m at the mall rn, where your favorite store to go at mall?”
“what’s your favorite song off the new album”
“Who were your first/strangest musical obsessions as a kid?”

MORE Perfume Genius news: In the middle of answering questions this afternoon a new song was released. Go Ahead… and follow this link to pick the way you’d like to hear the second track released from No Shape which will officially be out in the world on May 5th. Not too much longer!